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President[ George Washington

         Date[ October 25, 1791

Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

"In vain may we expect peace with the Indians on our frontiers so long as a

lawless set of unprincipled wretches can violate the rights of hospitality,

or infringe the most solemn treaties, without receiving the punishment they

so justly merit."

I meet you upon the present occasion with the feelings which are naturally

inspired by a strong impression of the prosperous situations of our common

country, and by a persuasion equally strong that the labors of the session

which has just commenced will, under the guidance of a spirit no less

prudent than patriotic, issue in measures conducive to the stability and

increase of national prosperity.

Numerous as are the providential blessings which demand our grateful

acknowledgments, the abundance with which another year has again rewarded

the industry of the husbandman is too important to escape recollection.

Your own observations in your respective situations will have satisfied you

of the progressive state of agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and

navigation. In tracing their causes you will have remarked with particular

pleasure the happy effects of that revival of confidence, public as well as

private, to which the Constitution and laws of the United States have so

eminently contributed; and you will have observed with no less interest new

and decisive proofs of the increasing reputation and credit of the nation.

But you nevertheless can not fail to derive satisfaction from the

confirmation of these circumstances which will be disclosed in the several

official communications that will be made to you in the course of your

deliberations.

The rapid subscriptions to the Bank of the United States, which completed

the sum allowed to be subscribed in a single day, is among the striking and

pleasing evidences which present themselves, not only of confidence in the

Government, but of resource in the community.

In the interval of your recess due attention has been paid to the execution

of the different objects which were specially provided for by the laws and

resolutions of the last session.

Among the most important of these is the defense and security of the

western frontiers. To accomplish it on the most humane principles was a

primary wish.

Accordingly, at the same time the treaties have been provisionally

concluded and other proper means used to attach the wavering and to confirm

in their friendship the well-disposed tribes of Indians, effectual measures

have been adopted to make those of a hostile description sensible that a

pacification was desired upon terms of moderation and justice.

Those measures having proved unsuccessful, it became necessary to convince

the refractory of the power of the United States to punish their

depredations. Offensive operations have therefore been directed, to be

conducted, however, as consistently as possible with the dictates of

humanity.

Some of these have been crowned with full success and others are yet

depending. The expeditions which have been completed were carried on under

the authority and at the expense of the United States by the militia of

Kentucky, whose enterprise, intrepidity, and good conduct are entitled of

peculiar commendation.

Overtures of peace are still continued to the deluded tribes, and

considerable numbers of individuals belonging to them have lately renounced

all further opposition, removed from their former situations, and placed

themselves under the immediate protection of the United States.

It is sincerely to be desired that all need of coercion in future may cease

and that an intimate intercourse may succeed, calculated to advance the

happiness of the Indians and to attach them firmly to the United States.

In order to this it seems necessary--That they should experience the

benefits of an impartial dispensation of justice. That the mode of

alienating their lands, the main source of discontent and war, should be so

defined and regulated as to obviate imposition and as far as may be

practicable controversy concerning the reality and extent of the

alienations which are made. That commerce with them should be promoted

under regulations tending to secure an equitable deportment toward them,

and that such rational experiments should be made for imparting to them the

blessings of civilization as may from time to time suit their condition.

That the Executive of the United States should be enabled to employ the

means to which the Indians have been long accustomed for uniting their

immediate interests with the preservation of peace. And that efficacious

provision should be made for inflicting adequate penalties upon all those

who, by violating their rights, shall infringe the treaties and endanger

the peace of the Union. A system corresponding with the mild principles of

religion and philanthropy toward an unenlightened race of men, whose

happiness materially depends on the conduct of the United States, would be

as honorable to the national character as conformable to the dictates of

sound policy.

The powers specially vested in me by the act laying certain duties on

distilled spirits, which respect the subdivisions of the districts into

surveys, the appointment of officers, and the assignment of compensations,

have likewise been carried into effect. In a manner in which both materials

and experience were wanting to guide the calculation it will be readily

conceived that there must have been difficulty in such an adjustment of the

rates of compensation as would conciliate a reasonable competency with a

proper regard to the limits prescribed by the law. It is hoped that the

circumspection which has been used will be found in the result to have

secured the last of the two objects; but it is probable that with a view

to the first in some instances a revision of the provision will be found

advisable.

The impressions with which this law has been received by the community have

been upon the whole such as were to be expected among enlightened and

well-disposed citizens from the propriety and necessity of the measure. The

novelty, however, of the tax in a considerable part of the United States

and a misconception of some of its provisions have given occasion in

particular places to some degree of discontent; but it is satisfactory to

know that this disposition yields to proper explanations and more just

apprehensions of the true nature of the law, and I entertain a full

confidence that it will in all give way to motives which arise out of a

just sense of duty and a virtuous regard to the public welfare.

If there are any circumstances in the law which consistently with its main

design may be so varied as to remove any well-intentioned objections that

may happen to exist, it will consist with a wise moderation to make the

proper variations. It is desirable on all occasions to unite with a steady

and firm adherence to constitutional and necessary acts of Government the

fullest evidence of a disposition as far as may be practicable to consult

the wishes of every part of the community and to lay the foundations of the

public administration in the affections of the people.

Pursuant to the authority contained in the several acts on that subject, a

district of 10 miles square for the permanent seat of the Government of the

United States has been fixed and announced by proclamation, which district

will comprehend lands on both sides of the river Potomac and the towns of

Alexandria and Georgetown. A city has also been laid out agreeably to a

plan which will be placed before Congress, and as there is a prospect,

favored by the rate of sales which have already taken place, of ample funds

for carrying on the necessary public buildings, there is every expectation

of their due progress.

The completion of the census of the inhabitants, for which provision was

made by law, has been duly notified (excepting one instance in which the

return has been informal, and another in which it has been omitted or

miscarried), and the returns of the officers who were charged with this

duty, which will be laid before you, will give you the pleasing assurance

that the present population of the United States borders on 4,000,000

persons.

It is proper also to inform you that a further loan of 2,500,000 florins

has been completed in Holland, the terms of which are similar to those of

the one last announced, except as to a small reduction of charges. Another,

on like terms, for 6,000,000 florins, had been set on foot under

circumstances that assured an immediate completion.

Gentlemen of the Senate:

Two treaties which have been provisionally concluded with the Cherokees and

Six Nations of Indians will be laid before you for your consideration and

ratification.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

In entering upon the discharge of your legislative trust you must

anticipate with pleasure that many of the difficulties necessarily incident

to the first arrangements of a new government for an extensive country have

been happily surmounted by the zealous and judicious exertions of your

predecessors in cooperation with the other branch of the Legislature. The

important objects which remain to be accomplished will, I am persuaded, be

conducted upon principles equally comprehensive and equally well calculated

of the advancement of the general weal.

The time limited for receiving subscriptions to the loans proposed by the

act making provision for the debt of the United States having expired,

statements from the proper department will as soon as possible apprise you

of the exact result. Enough, however, is known already to afford an

assurance that the views of that act have been substantially fulfilled. The

subscription in the domestic debt of the United States has embraced by far

the greatest proportion of that debt, affording at the same time proof of

the general satisfaction of the public creditors with the system which has

been proposed to their acceptance and of the spirit of accommodation to the

convenience of the Government with which they are actuated. The

subscriptions in the debts of the respective States as far as the

provisions of the law have permitted may be said to be yet more general.

The part of the debt of the United States which remains unsubscribed will

naturally engage your further deliberations.

It is particularly pleasing to me to be able to announce to you that the

revenues which have been established promise to be adequate to their

objects, and may be permitted, if no unforeseen exigency occurs, to

supersede for the present the necessity of any new burthens upon our

constituents.

An object which will claim your early attention is a provision for the

current service of the ensuing year, together with such ascertained demands

upon the Treasury as require to be immediately discharged, and such

casualties as may have arisen in the execution of the public business, for

which no specific appropriation may have yet been made; of all which a

proper estimate will be laid before you.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

I shall content myself with a general reference to former communications

for several objects upon which the urgency of other affairs has hitherto

postponed any definitive resolution. Their importance will recall them to

your attention, and I trust that the progress already made in the most

arduous arrangements of the Government will afford you leisure to resume

them to advantage.

These are, however, some of them of which I can not forbear a more

particular mention. These are the militia, the post office and post roads,

the mint, weights and measures, a provision for the sale of the vacant

lands of the United States.

The first is certainly an object of primary importance whether viewed in

reference to the national security to the satisfaction of the community or

to the preservation of order. In connection with this the establishment of

competent magazines and arsenals and the fortification of such places as

are peculiarly important and vulnerable naturally present themselves to

consideration. The safety of the United States under divine protection

ought to rest on the basis of systematic and solid arrangements, exposed as

little as possible to the hazards of fortuitous circumstances.

The importance of the post office and post roads on a plan sufficiently

liberal and comprehensive, as they respect the expedition, safety, and

facility of communication, is increased by their instrumentality in

diffusing a knowledge of the laws and proceedings of the Government, which,

while it contributes to the security of the people, serves also to guard

them against the effects of misrepresentation and misconception. The

establishment of additional cross posts, especially to some of the

important points in the Western and Northern parts of the Union, can not

fail to be of material utility.

The disorders in the existing currency, and especially the scarcity of

small change, a scarcity so peculiarly distressing to the poorer classes,

strongly recommend the carrying into immediate effect the resolution

already entered into concerning the establishment of a mint. Measures have

been taken pursuant to that resolution for procuring some of the most

necessary artists, together with the requisite apparatus.

An uniformity in the weights and measures of the country is among the

important objects submitted to you by the Constitution, and if it can be

derived from a standard at once invariable and universal, must be no less

honorable to the public councils than conducive to the public convenience.

A provision for the sale of the vacant lands of the United States is

particularly urged, among other reasons, by the important considerations

that they are pledged as a fund for reimbursing the public debt; that if

timely and judiciously applied they may save the necessity of burthening

our citizens with new taxes for the extinguishment of the principal; and

that being free to discharge the principal but in a limited proportion, no

opportunity ought to be lost for availing the public of its right.

GO. WASHINGTON

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